End train-pipe valve



Jau.17,1928. 4 1,656,393

' E; A. RUSSELL END TRAIN PIPE VALVE Filed Jul .27', 1927 v Sheets-Shoot 1 512M011 Vlg Jan. 17,1928,

Y E. A. RUSSELL. ,393

END TRAIN PIPE VALVE Filed July 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NlllllllllllllfliI izuizrd A. 3115. 92]

Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

U NITED Y STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. RUSSELL, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VAPOR CAR HEATING COMPANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

END TRAIN-PIPE VALVE.

Application filed July 27,

This invention relates to improvements in end train pipe valves for steam car-heating systems.

Systems of car heating using steam from the engine are constructed with a train line or main supply pipe extending from the boiler head in the engine cab to the rear of the train. This train line isconnected by steam couplers between the cars and is provided with branch steam connections to the heating pipes in each car. Each end of the train pipe on each car is provided with an end train pipe valve, these valves at the adjatent ends of the two cars beingnorinally open when the cars are included in a train and the steam couplings, are connected in place. Only the end train pipe valve at the rear end of the train will'be closed. a

As the entire train line and connections are exposed to the weather, it naturally follows that considerable condensation takes place therein, and most of this condensate can only escape at the rear of the train line, This condensatiomif it is not allowed to discharge at the rear as fast as it collects, will quickly freeze up and cause very serious trouble in cold weather. However, if the steam pressure is. maintained on the train line all the way to the rear and the rear train pipe valve allowed to bleed a little steam through the rear hose coupling, that 18 al-- low a small stream of steam to continuously escape, this trouble will be avoided.

When the steam couplings, between ad jacent cars are connected, the workman standing adjacent the valves may move them to open position. However, itis sometimes desirable to open these valves from the platform above, for example, when steam is to be cut off from'the entire train line, at which time the rear train pipe valve is opened wide toblow out the train line and allow steam to escape. r

The general object of this invent-ionis to provide an improved form ofend train pipe valve adapted to perform in a more satisfactory manner the functions noted hereinabove.

Another object is to provide improved means for moving the valve from closed to lifting lever.

1927. Serial No. 208,721.

open position, or vice versa, and also for positively locking the valve in open fposition.

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the assembledvalve.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a vertical section takensubstantially on the line 33 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rock shaft and cam.

Referring nowto the drawings, at 1 is shown the end of the train steam pipe, supportedin the usual manner beneath the car. The main casing 2 of the end train pipe valve is formed at the rear with an extension 8 which is internally threaded at 4 to receive the end of the train pipe 1, from which it is supported. Valve casing 2 is also provided with a downwardly projectingextension. 5, which is internally threaded at 6 to receivethe end of the flexible pipe coupling by means of which connection is made with the adjacent car. j

The main valve seat 7, preferably in the form of a. removable annular member screwed into the casing 2, is located at the upper end of the outlet passage 8 in vertical extension 5 of the casing. The main valve member 9 is formed at its lower end with a valve plate 10 adapted to cooperate with the valve seat 7 to close the outlet passage 8. The valve member 9 is formed above the valve plate 10 with'a transverse passage 11, and a central bleeding port 12 through plate 10 serves to place the interior of the valve casing 2 in communication with the outlet passage 8 throughvalve passage 11 and port 12.. The upper end of bleeding port 12 is tapered to form a valveseat 13 with which cooperates the correspondingly tapered end 14 of the bleeding valve 15 which slidably fits within and is guided for vertical movement by a passage 16 formed in the valve member 9. The upper end of valve member 9 is cored out as shown at 17 to house the operating parts now to be described. The upper end of bleeding valve is pivoted upon the transverse pin 18. the ends of which are guided for limited vertical movement Within the slots 19 in the forked upper end portion 20 of valve member 9.

The valve lifting lever 21 is pivoted at one end upon pivot pin 22, mounted within the inlet passage 23 of the valve casing. The pivot pin 22 may conveniently be in the form of a screw bolt having its larger end 24 screwed into one side wall of the casing,v and its opposite end 25 supported within a projection or stud 26 formed on the inner side of the opposite side wall of the casing. The opposite end of lever 21 is forked at 27 to form downwardly projecting ends 28 which are pivoted at 29 upon. the pin 18 at opposite sides of the bleeding valve 15 and between the upper side portions 20 of the valve member 9. A bowed leaf spring 30 is attached at one end to a lug 31 formed on the upper side of lever 21. A curved downwardly projecting finger 32 is. formed on the lower side of lever 21 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The main valve plate 10 is guided for vertical movement by a series of guide ribs 33 formed within the casing 2. A rockshaft 34 is pivoted transversely within casing 2 adjacent the vertical path of travel of this main valve 10. One reduced end 35 of this shaft is adapted to pivot within a stud 36 formed on one inner side wall of the valve casing. The opposite end of rockshaft 34 extends through and is pivoted within a bonnet or plug37, which is screwed at 38 into the opposite side wall of easing 2. A cap 39 screws onto the outer end of bonnet- 37, and is adapted to force the gland 40 against the gasket or packing ring 41 and thus form a steam-tight joint around the rock-shaft 34. The outer end of the rockshaft is formed of square or other noncircular contour, as indicated at 42, forthe attachment of a suitable operating lever or other means by which the rock-shaft may be operated, from a distance. As here shown. a socket member 43 having an integral counterweight 44 projecting laterally therefrom is attached to the squared end 42 of the shaft 34. One forked end portion 45 of a universal joint 46 is also formed on the socket member43, the otherfor red end of the universal joint being attached to an operating rock shaft 48.

Formed on the'inner portion of rocleshaft 34 so that it will be positioned directly under the valve lifting lever 21 is a cam 49 which projects substantially radially from. shaft 34. The upper side of this cam pletely closed position.

curved at 50 to engage the under surface of lever 21 and lifts the same and the valves when the cam is rotated in a clockwise direetion (Fig. 1) about the axis of rock-shaft 34. Cam 49 is formed with side flanges 51 adapted to engage the side edges of the lever 21 and thus guide the enga 'ng parts for vertical movement. A stop ug 52 formed on one side of cam 43 is adapted to engage a stop lug 53 formed on the inner face" of valve casing 2 when the valves are in com- Similarly, the lug 52 engages a fixed lug 54 in the casing to limit the upward swinging movement of the cam when the valve-lifting lever is completely elevated. This will stop the cam in such a position that it will extend substantially at right angles to the lever 21 and positively lock this lever against downward movement. At this time the leaf-spring 30 will be compressed against the upper wall of the valve casing (as shown in dotted line Fig. 1) thereby holding the lever 21 firmly against the upper end of cam 47 and assisting in looking the parts firmly in this open position. It will be noted that the counterweight 44 projects from the shaft 34 at such an angle relative to the cam 49 that when the cam is in its raised lever-lifting position, as shown in Fig. 1, practically the entire mass of the counterweight. will be effective to hold the cam in this raised position. lVhen the rock-shaft 34 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the spring 30 will throw the lever 21 downwardly to assist gravity in moving the valves to closed position. If for any reason the parts should stick, the cam 43 will engage the down wardly projecting finger 32 on lever 21 and positively swing the lever downwardly.

A cap 56 screwed into the upper end of valve casing 2 permits access to the valves and valve-operating parts for assembling or disassembling the apparatus.

It will. be noted, as shown in full lines, Fig.1, that when in closed positions both movable valve members 9 and 15 will be held against their respective seats by gravity, assisted'hy the steam pressure within the easing 2. The weight of the lever 21 also assists in holding the valves closed. hen it is desired to open the auxiliary valve15 to permit the steam to bleed through the port 12 the rock-shaft 34 is rotated slightly in a clock-wise direction (Fig. 1) so that the cam surface 50 will engage the under surface of lever 21 and swing it slightly upwardly. This upward movement of lever 21 will lift the valve 15 raising its tapered lower end 14 off from the valve seat 13 and opening the bleeding port 12. The main valve 9 will not be moved since the pin 18 will simply move upwardly within the slots 19. The amount of opening of valve 15 may be regulated to some extent by varying the distance through lei) Ill

which the cam is rotated. The frictionof the valve operating connections and of the rock-shaft 34 in its hearings will ordinarlly ube sufiicient to hold the auxiliary valve 15 in its adjusted position since these operating parts are counter-balanced by the weighted arm 44. When it is desired to open the main valve 9, a continuous clocl wise rotation is imparted to rock-shaft 84: so that the cam49 will be swung up until the lug 52 engages the fixed stop lug ii within the valve casing. The valve lever 21 will be swung upwardl until the pin 18 engages the upper ends slots 19 after which the main valve 9 will be lifted the valve plate being guided upwardly between the guide ribs 33. As the operating cam nears the upper limit of its travel the spring will engage the under surface of the upper wall of the casing. and becompressed so that 1y impossible for the jolting of the cars to cause the gravity actuated valve members to fall to their lower positions and close the valves. When it is desired to close one of the valves, the rock-,shaft'fl l is rotated in a countencloclrwisedirection until the lug 52 on the cam engages the stop lug 53. This will permit the valves to fall to closed positions, they being assisted in this movement by the weight of the lever 21 and the expansion of the spring 30. If necessary, this movement will be assisted by the engagement of cam 52 with the downwardly curved finger 32 on operating lever 21.

It will be noted that for the initial opening .of the valves, when the steam pressure upon the upper surfaces of the valve must be overcome, a very effective leverage is obtained since the lowest portion of the cam is at this time in engagement with the lift ing lever 21. After the valves have been broken loose from their seats, much less power is needed -to complete the opening movement of the valves, and the higherportion of the cam comes into play to quickly swing lever 21 to its completely elevated position.

Due to the limitations of the space in which these end train pipe valves must be mountedin certain installations, it is necessary that the operating shaft 34 be mounted in the casing closely adjacent the vertical path of travel of the valve lHG-IIIbQIF. The

present construction permits the desired. ar

rangement of the parts and at the same time provides an effective leverage system tor givingthe necessary vertical movement to the valve members, and also elfectivelylocle ing the valves in open position.

I claim:

1. An end train pipevalve comprising a casing. having inlet and outlet ports an a passageway therebetween, a valve seat surrounding said passage, a valvemember movable toward orfrom the seat, a lever having one end pivoted within the casing and the other end pivoted to the movable velve member, a rock-shaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the ivalve member, and operating-connections between this shaftandlever.

2. An end. train pipe valve comprising a casing having inlet and out-let ports and a )assa ewa therebetween a valve seat surrounding said passage, a valve member movi able toward or from the seat, a lever having one end pivoted within the casing and the other end pivoted to the movable valve member, a rock-shaft pivoted. in the casing adjacent the valve member, and a cam on the shaft engaging an intermediate portion of the lever.

3. An end train pipe valve comprising' operating means on therock-shaft and lever for lifting and lowering the lever as the shaft is oscillated.

4. An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating witha substantially verticaloutlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a valve member movable vertically toward or from this seat, a lever having one end pivoted withinthe horizontal passage and the other end pivotally engaging the valve member, a

rock-shaft pivoted in" the casing adjacent the valve member and beneath the lever, and

a cam onthe rock-shaft engaging the lever as the shaft is oscillated. l

5. An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing; having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a valve member. movable vert-ically toward or from this seat, a lever having one end pivoted within the horizontal passage and the other end pivotally engaging the valve member, a rock-shaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the valve member and beneath the lever, a cam the lever when the shaft is oscillated in one direction, and a projection on the lever engageable by the cam to lower the lever when the shaft is oscillated in the reverse direction.

6. An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a valve member movable vertically toward or from this seat, a lever having one end pivoted within the horizontal passage and the other end pivotally engaging the valve member, a rock-shaft )ivoted in the casing adjacent the valve mem er and beneath the lever, a cam on the rock-shaft adapted to engage and lift the lever when the shaft is oscillated in one direction, and a spring mounted on the lever and adapted tobe compressed against the casing when the lever is elevated.

7. 'An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a valve member movable vertically toward or from this seat, a lever having one end pivoted within the horizontal passage and the other end pivotally engaging the valve member, a rock-shaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the valvemember and beneath the lever, a cam on the rock-shaft adapted to engage and lift the lever when the shaft is oscillated in one direction, and a spring which is placed under compression when the lever is elevated.

8. An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a valve member movable vertically toward or from this seat, a lever having one end pivoted within the horizontal passage and the other end pivotally engaging the valve member, a rock-shaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the valve member and beneath the lever, a cam secured to and projecting laterally from the rock-shaft beneath the lever, a pair of stops in the casing positioned to be engaged by the cam and limit its range of oscillation, the low portion of the cam being beneath the lever when the valve member is against its seat, and the high portion of the cam engaging beneath the lever and projecting at right angles thereto when the valve is'littecl, to lock the valve in open position.

9. An end train pipe valve comprising a casing having inlet and outlet ports and a passageway therebetween, a valve seat surrounding said passage, a valve member movable toward or from the seat, a valve-lifting lever pivoted within the casing, and a cam and an opposed spring adapted to move the lever and valve respectively to open and closed positions, the cam and spring cooperating to lock the lever in position for holding the valve open.

10. An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a main valve member guided in the vertical passage toward or from this seat, a bleeding port in the main valve, an auxiliary valve member guided for vertical movement in the main valve and adapted to close the bleeding port, a pivot pin mounted in the upper portion of the auxiliary valve, slots in the main valve permitting limited vertical movement of the ends of the pin, a lever pivoted at one end in the horizontal passage of the casing and pivoted to the pin at its other end, a rockshaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the valve member, and a cam mounted on the rockshaft and adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the lever and lift the valves.

11. An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a main valve member guided in the vertical passage toward or from this seat, a bleeding port in the main valve, an auxiliaryvalve member guided for vertical movement in the main valve and adapted to close the bleeding port, a pivot pin mounted in the upper portion of the auxiliary valve, slots in the main valve permitting limited vertical movement of the ends of the pin, a lever pivoted at one end in the horizontal passage of the casing and pivoted to the pin at its other end, a rockshaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the valve member, and a cam mounted on the rock-shaft and adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the lever and lift the valves, the high portion of the cam projecting radially of the rock-shaft and at right angles to the lever at one limit of movement of the cam to lock the valves in open position.

12. An end train pipe valve comprising a hollow casing having a substantially horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet'passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a main valve member guided in the vertical passage toward or from this seat, a bleeding port in the main valve, an auxiliary valve member guided for vertical movement in the main valve and adapted to close the bleeding port, a pivot pin mounted in the upper portionof the auxiliary valve, slots in the main valve permitting limited vertical movement of the ends of the pin, a lever pivoted at one end in the horizontal passage of the casing and pivoted to the pin at its other end, a rockshaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the valve member, and a cam mounted on the rock-shaft and adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the cam projecting radially of the rock-shaft and at right angles to the lever at one limit of movement.

13. An end'train pipe valve comprising a casing having inlet and outlet portions and a passageway there between, a valve seat surrounding said passage, a valve member movable toward or from the seat, a lever having one end pivoted within the casing and the other end pivoted to the movable valve member, a rock-shaft pivoted vin the casing adjacent the movable valve member, a cam on the shaft engaging the intermediate portion of the lever, and means for counterbalancing the cam so positioned on the shaft as to tend to hold the cam in raised leverlifting position. j

14. An end train pipe valve com rising a hollow casing having a substantia 1y horizontal inlet passage communicating with a substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a main valve member guided in the vertical assage toward or from this seat, a blee ing port in the main valve, an auxiliary valve member guided for vertical movement in the main valve and adapted to close the bleeding port, a pivot pin mounted in the upper portion of the auxiliary valve, slots in the main valve permitting limited vertical movement of the ends of the pin, a lever pivoted at one end in the horizontal passage of the casing and pivoted to the pin at its other end, a rockshaft pivoted in' the casing adjacent the valve member, a cam mounted on the rockshaft and adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the lever and lift the valves, the high portion of the cam rojecting radially upward from the rocks aft and at right angles to the lever at one limit of movement of the cam to lock the valves in open position, and a counterbalance on the rockshaft so positioned as to hold the cam in its upwardly extending position.

15. An end train pipe valve com rising a hollow casing having av substantia ly horizontal inlet passage communicating with a r substantially vertical outlet passage, a valve seat surrounding the outlet passage, a main valve member guided in the vertical passa e toward or from this seat, a bleeding port in the main valve, an auxiliary valve member guided for vertical movement in the main valve and adapted to close the bleeding port,

a pivot in mounted in the upper portion of the auxi iary valve, slots in the main valve permitting limited vertical movement of the ends of the pin, a lever pivoted at one end in the horizontal passage of the casing and pivoted to the pin at its other end, a rockshaft pivoted in the casing adjacent the valve member, a cam mounted on the rockshaft and adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the lever and lift the valves, the high portion of the cam projecting radially of the rock-shaft and at right angles to the lever at one limit of movement of the cam to lock the valves in open position, and a spring mounted on the lever and compressed against a portion of the casing when the valves are open.

EDWARD A RUSSELL. 

